paperwork
gb/pˈeɪpɚwˌɚk/ us/pˈeɪpɚwˌɚk/
B1
English
~ 5600
papír, irat, papírmunka, adminisztráció
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] has to do the paperwork for [something]
We can't process your application until all the paperwork is complete.
Nem tudjuk feldolgozni a kérelmét, amíg nincs hiánytalanul meg az összes szükséges irat.
The lawyer checked the paperwork before we signed the contract.
Az ügyvéd átnézte az iratokat, mielőtt aláírtuk a szerződést.
Immigration paperwork can take several months to be approved.
She spread the paperwork across the table to find the missing invoice.
Make sure you bring the necessary paperwork to your appointment.
Learner examples
I have to bring a lot of paperwork to the bank.
Sok papírt kell bevinnem a bankba.
He filled out the paperwork for his new job.
Kitöltötte az új állásához szükséges papírokat.
She lost the paperwork for her car.
The doctor asked me to complete some paperwork.
All the travel paperwork is in this folder.
Common mistake:
Learners often treat "paperwork" as a countable noun and say *paperworks* or *many paperworks*. In modern English, "paperwork" is uncountable: say "a lot of paperwork", "some paperwork", or "pieces of paperwork" rather than adding *s*. Learners may also confuse "paperwork" with "homework"; "paperwork" is usually for official, work, or legal documents, not school exercises.
Meaning
official documents and forms
Collocations
do the paperwork
|fill out paperwork
|complete the paperwork
|paperwork requirements
|a lot of paperwork
|buried in paperwork
Synonyms
documents (More general; can refer to any written or digital files, not only official forms that must be processed.)
|
forms (Focuses on individual sheets that must be filled in, rather than the whole body of official papers.)
Antonyms
paperless system (Describes a process that does not use physical documents at all, the opposite situation of having paperwork.)
Themes
business
|government
|work
|daily life
|law
Definition
Official papers and forms that people must write, read, or keep for work, law, or other rules.
Official documents, forms, and records that need to be completed, processed, or kept, especially for business, legal, or administrative purposes.
NOUN
B1
2
papírmunka
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] has a lot of paperwork to do
I spent the whole afternoon catching up on paperwork.
Az egész délutánt a felgyűlt papírmunka ledolgozásával töltöttem.
The new software should reduce the amount of paperwork for staff.
Az új szoftvernek csökkentenie kellene a dolgozókra háruló papírmunkát.
Teachers often complain that paperwork takes time away from their students.
Most of my job is paperwork rather than meeting clients.
He was promoted and now has more paperwork and less fieldwork.
Learner examples
I stayed late at the office to finish my paperwork.
Sokáig bent maradtam az irodában, hogy befejezzem a papírmunkámat.
Her job includes a lot of paperwork.
A munkája sok papírmunkával jár.
He hates paperwork and prefers to work with customers.
The manager wants to cut down on paperwork.
They hired an assistant to help with the paperwork.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "paperwork" only means physical pieces of paper. In this sense it refers to the work or task of dealing with documents, not only the papers themselves. Compare: "The paperwork is on my desk" (documents) vs. "I have a lot of paperwork" (work to do).
Meaning
activity of handling official documents
Collocations
do paperwork
|office paperwork
|boring paperwork
|deal with paperwork
|cut paperwork
|paperwork duties
Synonyms
administration (Broader and more formal; includes managing systems and processes, not only work with documents.)
|
clerical work (More technical; refers to office tasks like filing, typing, and record-keeping, not just dealing with documents.)
Antonyms
hands-on work (Describes practical, physical tasks, contrasting with desk-based paperwork and administrative tasks.)
Themes
work
|business
|office
|law
Definition
The work of writing, checking, and organizing official papers and forms.
The administrative work of preparing, organizing, or processing official documents and forms, often seen as routine or time-consuming.
Grammar
Dictionary form
paperwork
IPA
GB/pˈeɪpɚwˌɚk/
US/pˈeɪpɚwˌɚk/
Syllables & stress
pa - per - work (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pa)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: paperwork
- Plural: paperwork
Word family
Expressions
be buried in paperwork
1/bˈi bˈɛɹid ˈɪn pˈeɪpɚwˌɚk/
idiom
overwhelmed by too much paperwork
to have so much paperwork to do that it feels like too much and is hard to manage
Examples
- I'm buried in paperwork this week because of the audit.
- The staff were buried in paperwork after the new rules came in.
- She looked exhausted, completely buried in paperwork at her desk.
do the paperwork
1/dˈu ðə pˈeɪpɚwˌɚk/
fixed phrase
complete required official documents
to complete all the official forms and documents that are needed for something
Examples
- I can show you the apartment today, but you'll need to do the paperwork tomorrow.
- She stayed late to do the paperwork for the new employees.
- Once we do the paperwork, the car will officially be yours.
fill out the paperwork
1/fˈɪl ˈaʊt ðə pˈeɪpɚwˌɚk/
fixed phrase
write information on all forms
to write the needed information on every part of the official forms and documents
Examples
- Please fill out the paperwork before your interview.
- It took me an hour to fill out the paperwork for the loan.
- New patients must fill out the paperwork at reception.